A felony charge against a former board member for Cameron County Drainage District #3, accused of illegally receiving $87,000 in payments from the district over a 20-year period, was dismissed.

Cameron County court records show the misapplication of fiduciary property charge against Randall McMurray was dismissed on Aug. 17 after he paid restitution.

As previously reported, McMurray was one of three drainage officials arrested after an investigation revealed they were paid $300,000 in excess pay since 2000 after falsifying records, according to arrest records obtained by Channel 5 News.

Current drainage district board president Ronaldo Garcia and former general manager Sonia Lambert were involved in the scheme. Court records show they’re still facing charges.

All three were arrested in February 2026 after a financial criminal complaint was filed at the Texas Department of Public Safety office in Brownsville.

The complaint said Garcia, McMurray and two other elected board members received approximately $300,000 combined total in payments for services since 2000, and Lambert knowingly approved and paid the money in district funds, which exceeds the legal limitations of the Texas Water Code.

Garcia has been board president for 25 years, and McMurray was a board member for 20 years until he resigned in December 2021.

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Lambert retired from her general management position in 2023; her retirement is what led to the discovery of the misapplication of funds, records state.

The criminal complaint said before 2023, the Texas Water Code mandated board members could receive payments only for services limited to $150 per day, $600 per month, or $7,200 per year. Payments for each service required documentation of services provided by the board members.

In 2023, a legislative change allowed board members to receive payment for services limited to $221 per day of service, and documentation requirements remained the same.

The board members were consistently receiving $600 a month, and the district holds only one monthly meeting on average.

The complaint claimed falsified government documents were signed by the accused board members, indicating they attended more meetings per month than what was actually held. A review of documents and meeting dates showed board members signing attendance sheets for meetings that never took place.

After reviewing all documentation, investigators noted Garcia received $108,000, exceeding lawful amounts since 2000, and McMurray received $87,000.

Garcia and Lambert currently have court hearings set for Oct. 19.